Aymeric Laporte completes his move to Manchester City

Player: Aymeric Laporte

Age: 23 years

Position: Centre Back

Nationality: France

To: Manchester City

From: Atletic Bilbao

Transfer Fee: £57 Million

Premier League leaders Manchester City have broken their transfer record for a 3rd time this season with the signing of defender Aymeric Laporte from Atletic Bilbao for £57 Million.

The French defender has signed a long-term contract until 2023 and has taken the No.14 shirt, becoming the most expensive signing in the club's history.

After spending his senior career with Bilbao, Laporte is now regarded among the most promising young defenders in Europe. A move to City would perhaps be the right move in his career to take his game to the next level.

Laporte is a left-footed player whose main attribute is his calmness on the pitch with or without the ball and is also known for his passing ability from the back.

Career Statistics

Atletic Bilbao

Club Appearances: 222

Goals: 10

Assists: 6

For a player who's still just 23, Laporte has already made over 200 appearances for Bilbao and has scored 10 times.

In the 2013/14 season, his impressive display in La Liga saw him being named in the Team of the Year which is an impressive feat.

At the start of the 2015/16 season, he helped his side beat giants FC Barcelona in the Supercopa helping Bilbao win their first piece of silverware for 31 years.

City's 5-man defense

With Laporte's arrival, Man City manager Pep Guardiola has spent more than £240 Million on his defensive unit alone.

Although City may have the most expensive defensive unit in the world, it shows how much improvement Guardiola has brought to his side.

Before Guardiola took over, City's defensive unit in the 2015/16 season had a combined average age of 29 years and this season around its 26 years.

This shows a progress towards youth and longevity that City is showing and Guardiola will be able to mold his defenders into Europe's finest.

Laporte will find it difficult to instantly get into City's starting XI every week and keep out the likes of Nicolas Otamendi and captain Vincent Kompany.

But a move to the PL would have certainly increased his chances; 

• To make it into the France National Squad for the upcoming World Cup. 
• To help him get a taste of Champions League football.
• He also has a chance to win all four major honors for his team this season.

Phillippe Coutinho's move to Barcelona

Player: Philippe Coutinho

Age: 25 years

Position: Winger/No.10

Nationality: Brazilian

To: FC Barcelona

From: Liverpool FC

Transfer Fee: £142 Million

On the 8th of January 2018, Spanish Giants FC Barcelona announced the club's most historic transfer ever. The Catalans finally struck a deal to bring long-term target Philippe Coutinho to the Nou Camp from Liverpool.

The transfer fee was a mammoth £142 Million, making Coutinho the world's 2nd most expensive transfer ever, behind former Barcelona winger and fellow Brazilian compatriot Neymar.

Yesterday, after long-serving Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano confirmed his departure and vacated the No.14 shirt, the club confirmed Coutinho had taken the vacated number.

With the arrival of Coutinho, Barcelona may perhaps have got one of the best-attacking units in Europe. It was a match made in heaven when Coutinho moved to the Nou Camp and play for a historic club such as Barcelona, but where exactly is he going to fit in?

Career Statistics

Club Football

Appearances: 283

Goals: 65

Assists: 53

For a player who is still just 25, Coutinho has already surpassed 250 appearances, combining the ability to score and create brilliant as well as crucial goals.

These club appearances also include former youth teams Inter Milan, Espanyol and Vasco Da Gama, but it is at Liverpool where he has grown into the fabulous player he is/

Liverpool FC

Appearances: 201

Goals: 54

Assists: 46

During a 5-year career with the Reds, Coutinho has transformed into Europe's most feared attackers especially for goals scored outside the box.

Crossing 200 appearances in all competitions, he has managed a massive 54 goals with a large number of strikes coming outside the box.

Premier League

Appearances: 152

Goals: 41

Assists: 38

Coutinho has graced the PL stage by storm and his 152 appearances across five seasons speak for itself. 

Playing off the left supporting the central striker, Coutinho has been involved in a 79 PL goals, making him among Europe's most feared attackers

2017/18 Season (All Comps.)

Appearances: 20

Goals: 12

Assists: 9

Coutinho's final ever season with Liverpool saw him make 14 PL appearances, managing to score 7 times.

He had 5 UCL appearances this season, scoring 5 goals including a hat-trick in the final Group Stages game. Unfortunately, that will be the only UCL action he will play this season as he's cup-tied.

Barcelona's front four

Barcelona's front four for the remainder of their 2017/18 campaign is no short of a revelation. The only drawback would be Coutinho's omission from the UCL, a competition Barcelona would have been clear favorites to win with him in the side.

His favored offensive position would be down the left wing, the same position he played with his former side Liverpool. 

Barcelona's main man Lionel Messi would be expected to play either on the right wing or further up in the No.10 role, supporting Luis Suarez. Ousmane Dembele would also want to be included in the same starting XI as his fellow teammates.

Barcelona also prefers playing with 3 central midfielders with Busquets, Rakitic and Paulinho. So, it would be interesting to see who begins on the left; Coutinho or Dembele.

Coutinho will be expected to start fixtures before Barcelona's mid-week UCL fixtures and with him featuring in the same side with the likes of Messi, Iniesta, and Suarez, he too will establish himself and take his game to the next level.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan swaps Manchester for North Londoners Arsenal

Player: Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Age: 29 years
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Nationality: Armenian

To: Arsenal
From: Manchester United

Transfer: Swap Deal

Arsenal have announced the signing of Henrikh Mkhitaryan on a long-term contract. The player has moved to the North London side in exchange for Alexis Sanchez who has completed his move to Man United.

The Armenian midfielder has found it difficult to nail a permanent place in Jose Mourinho's starting XI this season and has been the key to Alexis Sanchez moving to his now former side.

Career Statistics

Appearances: 365

Goals: 125

Assists: 94

Mkhitaryan has a phenomenal record in front of goal in club competitions. Across 5 clubs, scoring 125 goals and almost a century of assists justifies his abilities.

Prior to his move to England, it was at Shakhtar Donetsk & Borussia Dortmund where his career started picking up. 

At Dortmund, he registered more assists than goals, especially in the 2015-16 season, scoring 23 and creating a further 32 goals.

Manchester United

Appearances: 63

Goals: 13

Assists: 11

In an 18-month spell, 63 appearances is pretty decent for a player of Mkhitaryan's caliber. Mkhitaryan's presence helped United win the EFL Cup and the Europa League last season.

Premier League

Appearances: 39

Goals: 5

Assists: 6

It is in the Premier League where Mkhitaryan has struggled to find game-time with a poor goal and assist return for a No.10, something which has largely happened this season.

2017-18 Season

Appearances: 15

Goals: 1

Assists: 5

Mkhitaryan stormed into the beginning of the PL season, registering 5 assists and scoring once in his first five games. But, since then his performances have deteriorated and his work-rate had been questioned by Mourinho, making just 10 appearances in the 19 games that followed.

Since his arrival in Manchester, Mkhitaryan didn't look comfortable playing for the club but at Arsenal it could be a different scenario. He suits the way Arsenal play as a team and manager Arsene Wenger will give him opportunities to show his talents.

Mkhitaryan is cup-tied in the EFL Cup this season, a competition Arsenal feature in this week, the semi-final 2nd leg against Chelsea. 

But, he is available for the Europa League, a competition he won last season and his team are favorites to win it this season. Mkhitaryan scored in the final last season, which took his tally to 6 goals in the competition.

Arsenal are also hopeful to bring in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang before the window closes, a player Mkhitaryan has combined phenomenally back in his Borussia Dortmund days.

If Mkhitaryan is able to regain his once glorious form in front of goal and work on his ball retention ability, he could establish himself as Arsenal's key player this season.

Alexis Sanchez completes his highly anticipated move to Manchester United

Player: Alexis Sanchez

Age: 29 years

Position: Forward

Nationality: Chile

To: Manchester United

From: Arsenal

Transfer Fee: Swap Deal

Alexis Sanchez' transfer saga has finally come to a conclusion. With his Arsenal contract running out, the  Chilean has completed his highly anticipated transfer to rivals Manchester United.  

The transfer is a swap deal with the now former Man United play-maker Henrikh Mlhitaryan has signed for the Gunners.


Sanchez was expected to move to United's cross-town rivals, PL leaders Man City and link-up with former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola. But with City dropping interest, it was United who may be proven to be the biggest winners of the deal.

He is now the second high profile arrival to move from Arsenal to Man United; following the footsteps of one, 
Robin Van Persie who guided United the 2012-13 PL Title with his attacking prowess. 

He has signed a long-term contract until 2022.

Sanchez is among few of the iconic players currently in Europe as he takes the iconic No.7 jersey, worn by club legends such as George Best, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Career Statistics:

Appearances: 450

Goals: 152

Assists: 105

450 appearances entirely justify how worthy of a talent he is along with a goal scoring record of 152 goals and over a century of assists.

Sanchez was a vital member of the Barcelona team, picking up a La Liga title, Spanish Cup and Super Cup in his three seasons with the club.

Arsenal

Appearances: 166

Goals: 80

Assists: 46

With game-time limited, Arsenal decided to bring the dynamic Chilean to the PL and the move didn't disappoint as he burst onto the scene with 16 PL goals in his first season.

Altogether, he has fired a staggering 80 goals for the Gunners across three-and-a-half seasons, winning the FA Cup on two occasions.

Premier League

Appearances: 122

Goals: 60

Assists: 27

2017-18 PL Season

Appearances: 19

Goals: 7

Assists: 3

In the PL, Sanchez has established himself among the fiercest strikers as his 60 league goals speak for itself. 

He scored a career-high 24 PL goals last season but had a poor return this season with just 7, largely due to speculation about his future but now he would want to regain his form with his new side.

Competition Eligibility

Sanchez will be able to play for United in the UEFA Champions League this season, which is a huge boost for the Red Devils. He has only featured for Arsenal in their Europa League campaign without playing a minute in the UCL so far.

He is also eligible to play in the FA Cup as he wasn't in the squad for Arsenal's defeat to Nottingham Forest this month, a competition he has won on two occasions.

Position Conundrum!

Alexis has plenty of agility, trickery, phenomenal technique and finishing ability combining with a brilliant work rate which will definitely please Man United manager Jose Mourinho.

Alexis prefers playing on the left wing due to his ability to cut inside and shoot on goal. Currently, United have a player who is playing that role brilliantly, Anthony Martial who has scored 9 goals this season, two more than Sanchez. Mourinho would love to pair up the two in the attack.

In the No.10 role is where Sanchez would thrive at, which could even benefit one player, in particular, Romelu Lukaku. 

Sanchez can also feature as a false No.9, the position he thrived in last season. The manager has a brilliant option in that position, especially in some of the tricky away fixtures.

Arsenal may have got a fantastic deal instead of letting Alexis leave on a free transfer and have also welcomed talisman Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

By getting in Sanchez, Man United may be the happier of the two sides this season as he checks most of the boxes a player of his caliber would bring to club of Manchester United's stature;

First Chilean to play for the club ✔

Lethal Goalscorer ✔

Iconic No.7 ✔

UCL eligibility ✔

FA Cup eligibility ✔

Fan Favorite ✔

Future Club Legend ✔

Arsenal's longest serving player Theo Walcott leaves for Everton

Player: Theo Walcott

Age: 28 years

Position: Striker

Nationality: England

To: Everton

From: Arsenal

Transfer Fee: £20 Million approx.

Former Arsenal speedster Theo Walcott has ended his 12-year career with the club, signing with Premier League side Everton for a fee in the region of £20 Million.

The England international has signed a three and a half year deal which keeps him contracted with the Toffees until 2021.

Walcott becomes Everton's 2nd major arrival this window following the arrival of striker Cenk Tosun and is expected to take the No.11 shirt, filling the void left by the departed Kevin Mirallas.

Everton have beaten off competition from Walcott's former side Southampton and the player hopes to land regular game-time and salvage a spot in the 23-man England side for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Walcott will once again link up with Sam Allardyce; a manager for whom he featured in his only international game for England back in 2016; coming on as a substitute.

Career Statistics

Arsenal

399 appearances

Goals: 108

Assists: 78

Although Walcott was shy of just one appearance to make it 400, he has over a century of goals for the Gunners; winning 3 FA Cups and 2 Community Shields in the process. 

Premier League

270 appearances

Goals: 65

Assists: 49

Walcott had been an ever present in the Arsenal side in the PL. His most productive season came way back in 2012-13, where he managed 32 appearances; scoring 14 goals and registering 12 assists in the league.

2017-18 PL season

6 appearances

Goals: 0

Assists: 0

Walcott was restricted to appearances in the PL this season; failing to start and getting on the score sheet. 

At Arsenal, Walcott had a conundrum figuring out his best position due to his adaptability to feature in any of the attacking positions. He prefers playing as an out-and-out striker.

Under Sam Allardyce, Everton prefer playing with a back four and Walcott is expected to feature on the Right Wing and with his pace and creativity support the likes of Rooney, Sigurdsson and Tosun.

In a back three is where Everton can get the best out of Walcott, playing him upfront in a 3-5-2. He is expected to make his debut this Saturday in the home fixture against West Brom.